Daily News ArchiveFrom
July 9, 2002
Washington State Suspends Use of Carbaryl on Oyster Beds
The Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board temporarily halted
the state Department of Ecology's pesticide permit issued to Willipa Bay
and Grays Harbor oyster growers. The permit allows over 800 acres of tide
flats to be sprayed with carbaryl, a toxic insecticide used to control
burrowing shrimp on oyster beds. The temporary suspension is a result
of the Washington Toxics Coalition and the Ad-hoc Coalition for Willapa
Bay June Board appeal to a permit that would allow the spray of more than
three tons of the insecticide.
The Depart of Ecology issued the permit allowing the spray for four years
despite hundreds of comments from the public and from other agencies expressing
concerns about the spray. Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor are the only places
in the country where such a spray is allowed. A final decision on whether
the permit is revoked will be made once the Board hears the coalition's
full appeal.

"With this
permit, Ecology is trying to legalize poisoning of an entire estuary
with a neurotoxic insecticide," said Erika Schreder, staff scientist
with the Washington Toxics Coalition. "We [were] forced to take
legal action because Ecology is shirking its duty to uphold the Clean
Water Act."

The final permit
issued by the Department of Ecology allows the growers to pollute the
bay with carbaryl that can be at toxic levels for up to 30 days following
the spray. The permit has no requirements to meet standards to protect
sediment or to protect human health. Thus, the permit clearly goes against
the requirements of the Clean Water Act. The permit also fails to protect
endangered species, including the coastal cutthroat which have been
proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act.

"Since our
state government is not protecting the health of our water bodies, we're
asking the Pollution Control Hearings Board to protect us," said
Larry Warnberg, an organic oyster grower and member of the Ad-hoc Coalition
for Willapa Bay. "Ecology needs to protect our water-my livelihood
and that of many crabbers and fishers depends on it."

"There is very
clear evidence that spraying three tons of carbaryl in sensitive estuaries
devastates the ecosystem, harming fish, birds, and other creatures,"
added Schreder. "Willapa Bay is renowned for its fish and crab
populations and the Clean Water Act says they have to be protected.
That's the protection we're seeking in court."